Black Mom Says White Motorcyclist Pulled Her By The Hair And Beat Her As Her 1-Year-Old Sat In The Car — Family Calls For Arrest

Copy Copied 1 of 3❯❮ Source: Photo courtesy of WLKY News. / Tenaya Stanford. Tenaya Stanford’s family and supporters are calling for accountability after she says a confrontation with a white motorcyclist on Sept. 30 escalated into a physical attack near Preston Highway and Grade Lane in Louisville, according to reports from WLKY and WDRB + Wave.

Stanford, 20, said she was driving with her 1-year-old daughter when she noticed a white male motorcyclist following her. She said the encounter continued for several miles before the man got off his motorcycle and confronted her outside her vehicle.

Stanford’s family and friends gathered outside Louisville Metro Police Department headquarters on Oct. 3, urging police to take action against the man involved. The motorcyclist has been identified by police, but LMPD has not filed criminal charges against him.

LMPD released body-camera footage of the incident on Oct. 5, along with an interview with Stanford conducted after the confrontation. In the interview, Stanford alleged that the motorcyclist “spit” on her vehicle, which she said sparked the confrontation. She also alleged that he “slammed” her foot into her car door and smashed her window during the altercation, according to WLKY.

“I did nothing to him. I don’t know him. He was being hateful towards me,” Stanford said, filled with tears, during an Oct. 2 press conference. “And of course I have to defend myself at the end of the day.”

The body-camera footage shows the two encounters appearing to continue after the vehicles leave the highway ramp. The motorcyclist gets off his motorcycle as Stanford pulls her vehicle near him.

As Stanford drives toward him from behind a group of trucks, the footage appears to show her vehicle move in his direction. The motorcyclist then approaches the car and appears to make contact with the vehicle, although the footage does not make clear exactly what happened.

The man walks away before turning back toward Stanford after she opens her car door. She closes the door as he approaches, and he again walks away. Stanford then gets out of the vehicle carrying the steering-wheel lock visible in the body-camera footage. The fight then escalates, with the white driver eventually dragging and pulling Stanford by the hair, beating her with an object. 

Police said officers responded to the scene and filed a report for harassment with physical contact, a Class B misdemeanor. LMPD said Kentucky law generally prevents officers from making an arrest for a misdemeanor they did not personally witness.

The department said the investigation is ongoing and that officers and detectives have obtained additional information since the initial report was filed.

During an interview with WLKY on Saturday, Stanford’s aunt, LeAndrea, said the family believes the potential charges do not adequately reflect the circumstances of the incident.

“She’s 20 years old. She’s a Black female that should be charged as a hate crime. Her 1-year-old was in the car. That’s not wanton endangerment,” LeAndrea said.

The incident has drawn widespread attention on social media, where video of the confrontation has circulated. Stanford’s friends said they were disturbed by what they saw.

“I know my friend. She’s not going to provoke a situation,” said Asia Gatewood. “She needs justice, and she needs her recognition.”

During Monday’s press conference, LMPD Chief Paul Humphrey said the department continues to investigate the confrontation and has not filed charges against either Stanford or the motorcyclist.

Humphrey said investigators believe both people contributed to the escalation, characterizing the incident as “two adults making a series of bad decisions.”

“If at any time either one of these people removed themselves from the situation we would not be here talking about this today… LMPD has been in communication ongoing with the Jefferson County Attorney’s Office, which will review the evidence and determine if they will pursue any criminal charges in this case.”

Humphrey also acknowledged the community’s reaction to the footage while urging those involved to exercise caution.

He added, “I understand why the community is upset at what they saw. We should all be upset at acts of violence and we should stand up for those who can’t defend themselves. We also need to be mature and wise in our decisions.”

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